Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: signaling imbalance

December 2019

Notable papers in autism research in 2019

by  /  23 December 2019

This year’s top papers deepen our understanding of autism’s genetics and reveal mixed results from trials of autism therapies.

Comments
Mice neurons seen in green

Loss of autism gene may lead to pile-up of proteins in neurons

by  /  19 December 2019

A shortage of CUL3, a leading autism gene, may impair social behavior in mice by ramping up protein production in neurons.

Comments
November 2019

Drug combination mutes sensitivity to noise in autism mice

by  /  25 November 2019

A mix of two drugs eases hypersensitivity to noise in mice missing an autism gene — offering the promise of a similar treatment for autistic people.

Comments
October 2019
Group of four organoid images

Mass-produced organoids hint at diversity of autism

by  /  23 October 2019

Researchers have analyzed thousands of brain organoids derived from six autistic people, gaining the potential to rapidly screen drugs.

Comments
a human brain model made of springs is shaking on its spring base

The link between epilepsy and autism, explained

by  /  21 October 2019

Autism and epileptic seizures often go hand in hand. What explains the overlap, and what does it reveal about autism’s origins?

Comments
August 2019

Drugs that calm ‘touch neurons’ may ease autism traits

by  /  8 August 2019

An experimental drug that muffles the activity of neurons in the skin moderates heightened reactions to touch in six mouse models of autism.

Comments
July 2019

Family groups, researchers join forces to solve mysteries of autism gene

by  /  10 July 2019

Families of children with mutations in a gene called SYNGAP1 have spurred research into the effects of the mutations on people — and how to treat them.

Comments
May 2019

The signaling imbalance theory of autism, explained

by  /  1 May 2019

The signaling imbalance theory holds that the brains of autistic people are hyper-excitable because of either excess neuronal activity or weak brakes on that activity.

Comments
February 2019
Close up of mouse shows whiskers

Four sets of mice call popular autism theory into question

by  /  25 February 2019

An analysis of four mouse models negates certain assumptions underlying the signaling imbalance theory of autism.

Comments

Brain’s prefrontal cortex conducts symphony of social players

by  /  20 February 2019

A brain region that orchestrates responses to social cues and aids decision-making may be off tempo in autism.

Comments